Patent EA-000548-B1 (EA)
Title: Method of self-adhesive labels
IPC: B31D1/02
Filed: 1996-11-07
Abstract: 1. A method of forming a strip of self-adhesive labels, comprising providing a backing strip having a labelling strip superimposed over and secured to it, then dividing said labelling strip into successive labels and waste regions, said waste regions of said labelling strip being more firmly secured to said backing strip than said labels. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said waste regions form one or more webs which extend continuously along the length of said labelling strip. 3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said labels are formed on said labelling strip by printing onto the rear and/or front surface of said labelling strip. 4. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a first layer of print is applied to the rear of each label, said first layer of print being subsequently printed with an opaque layer and then a second layer of print being applied to said opaque layer. 5. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein adhesive is applied either to the rear surface of said labelling strip or to the front surface of said backing strip, before said labelling strip is superimposed over said backing strip. 6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said adhesive is applied in-line with the printing process. 7. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said labelling strip is superimposed over said backing strip, in-line with the printing and adhesive-application processes. 8. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the step of dividing said labelling strip into successive label and waste regions is carried out in-line with the step of superimposing said labelling strip over said backing strip. 9. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the dividing step is carried out by die cutting. 10. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the dividing step is carried out by laser cutting. 11. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said waste regions of said labelling strip are more firmly bonded to said backing strip than said labels, and in which said backing strip is coated with a release agent over discrete portions of its surface which correspond to individual labels of said labelling strip, said release agent extending at least over areas of said backing strip which correspond with areas of said labelling strip which are immediately adjacent the peripheral edges of the respective labels. 12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the areas of release agent extend beyond the peripheral edges of said labels. 13. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein an adhesive is applied to said waste regions of said labelling strip, or to corresponding areas of said backing strip, which is stronger than the adhesive applied to said label regions. 14. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein solvent is applied to said waste regions of said labelling strip, or to corresponding areas of said backing strip, to cause said waste regions to bond to said backing strip. 15. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein said waste regions of said labelling strip are bonded to said backing strip by a welding process. 16. A method as claimed in any of preceding Claim, wherein said waste regions of said labelling strip are bonded to said backing strip over discrete areas only of said waste regions. 17. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the thickness of the labelling strip is greater than that of said backing strip. 18. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the front surface of each label is coated with contact adhesive 19. A method as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said adhesive coating comprises one or more adhesive-free strips extending along the length of said labelling strip. 20. A method as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, wherein the step of coating the front surface of each label with adhesive is carried out in-line with the step of dividing said labelling strip into successive label and waste regions. 21. A method as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 20, wherein the rear surface of said backing strip is coated with a release agent. 22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the step of coating the rear surface of said backing strip with release agent is carried out immediately prior to the step of applying adhesive to the rear surface of said labelling strip or to the front surface of said backing strip. 23. A method as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 22, wherein discrete areas of the rear surface of said labelling strip, which correspond to label regions, are coated with a release agent. 24. A method as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the step of coating discrete areas of the rear surface of said labelling strip with silicone is carried out in-line with the step of superimposing said labelling strip over said backing strip. 25. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said labelling strip comprises a plastic material. 26. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said labelling strip is transparent. 27. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said labelling strip comprises a heat-shrinkable material. 28. A method as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said backing strip comprises plastic material. 29. A strip of labels comprising a backing strip having a labelling strip superimposed and adhered to it, said labelling strip being divided into successive labels and waste regions, said waste regions being more firmly secured to said backing strip than said labels. 30. A strip of labels as claimed in Claim 29, wherein said waste regions of the labelling strip form one or more webs which extend continuously along the length of said labelling strip. 31. A strip of label as claimed in Claim 29 or 30, in which said backing strip has a coating of release agent over areas thereof corresponding to areas of adhesive by which said labels are adhered to said backing strip. 32. A strip of labels as claimed in any one of Claims 29 to 31, wherein the front surface of each label is coated with contact adhesive.